Heart defect killed my triathlete boyfriend as he slept by me

A woman told today how her boyfriend died next to her in their bed just moments after she whispered 'I love you'.

Dave Aitchison, a champion triathlete, died from an undetected heart muscle defect that caused the organ to fail suddenly as he lay next to Claire-Bridget Mclaughlin.

The 29-year-old, known to friends as CB, said the couple had spent a cosy night together on 23 January at their home in Vauxhall, London.

She said: "We got into bed and I told him I loved him, as I always do. Then I held his hand... he never woke up again."

"I'm honoured he was with me and that I was there to look after him and help him as much as I could. He was the love of my life and my soul mate.

"I am lucky because not many people know what it is like to be adored completely and to adore someone equally."

Mr Aitchison, 29, worked for a web design company in Queens Wharf but spent his spare time training for triathlons and was a member of the Fulham-based Ful-on Tri Club.

In 2006 he won races at the London Triathlon and the London Duathlon, and picked up a bronze medal at the World Age Group Championships in Lausanne.

His club named him their male triathlete of the year.

Ms Mclaughlin recalled: "Dave was one in a million and one of those people who was incredibly talented and athletic, but at the same time would light up any room he walked into.

"He had a wild and crazy side, but at the same time he was dedicated and determined. There are not many people who walk this earth who have such an ability to be a superb athlete."

Mr Aitchison grew up in Newcastle and moved to London about eight years ago.

His father Tony, 58, said: "David liked to set himself goals and planned to do a half Iron Man challenge this year.

"He set his sights very high and just went at it in a very dedicated way."

Mother Jenny, 57, added: "He just wanted to do the best he could and push himself as far as he could to see what he could achieve. We are very proud of him."

Tributes from friends and sporting colleagues have poured in to a web page of condolences.

Team mate Vince Kamp said: "Dave was awesome and none of us can believe he is gone.

"He was the fastest guy in our club but, more importantly, he was one of the most fun people you could be around."

Mr Aitchison leaves behind his parents and sister Jane, 26. He will be cremated at West Norwood Crematorium on Friday, an occasion his parents and girlfriend have promised will be "a party he would have wanted to attend".